Confirmed: Passed all 4 sections of CPA exam

[dfi]

I took all 4 exams during April/May for the first time. Here are the three scores I got back:

Auditing: 88
BEC: 90
Financial: 75!!!!

75 is the minimum score to pass. I feel very lucky, especially since I had a lot of problems managing my time on the financial exam. Waiting on the last score and hopefully it's a high one.

I decided to get into accounting around this time last year, and passing the CPA will definitely be a big step towards that goal. Now I just need to get into a Big 4.

dfi

Edit:

Just got my last score back. It was a 79, which is enough to pass. This is great!

dfi

 

[MrChad]

Congratulations! Good luck on your last score. When do you expect to get it?

 

[allisolm]

Now I just need to get into a Big 4.

Excuse my stupidity, but what is a Big 4?

Congratulations on passing the exams. I understand that they are verrry challenging. Consider this a "pat yourself on the back" icon.

 

[DingDingDao]

Big 4 = top 4 accounting/consulting firms in the country.

Deloitte & Touche, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse Coopers. Used to be Big 5, until Arthur Andersen pulled an Enron.

 

[Orsorum]

*sigh* Just one more year, just one more year...

lol I'm so selfish. Congratulations!

 

[dfi]

Thanks everyone! I feel like a great weight has been lifted off my shoulder. Well... most of the weight (still waiting on that last score).

Originally posted by: MrChad
Congratulations! Good luck on your last score. When do you expect to get it?

I think (hope) I'll get in the high 80's/low 90's for the last score. I did poorly on the financial exam because I left almost no time to work on a section that was worth 15%. I literally worked down to the very last second, trying to rush out an answer ASAP.

While I was preparing for the exam, I had this idea in the back of my head that I would compete for the Sell's award, which is given to the top 3 scores in the nation. However, that's now an impossibility, since I believe minimum eligibility is at least 80 on all 4 exams, with scores in the low 90's considered as competitive.

dfi

 

[NickelTitanium]

is being a CPA all that hard? just one year to prepare is nothing.

 

[MaxDepth]

Prcie Waterhouse & Cooper is now owned by IBM. Polish your leet skilz too!

EDIT: congrats by the way!
:beer: and :wine: for our new bean counter!

 

[biostud]

If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

 

[luvya]

Did you attend any CPA preparation class, or just study on your own?

 

[RagingBITCH]

Originally posted by: biostud666
If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

um.......what? You fail it then.

 

[Howard]

My sister works for KPMG.

 

[z0mb13]

Originally posted by: biostud666
If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

fail

congrats to you!!

is the test really hard??

 

[biostud]

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: biostud666
If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

um.......what? You fail it then.

sure, but if you fail don't you just fail? or can you pass the examins with failed courses.

What I thought is why don't they just call it failed or passed 1-25?

 

[Feldenak]

Congratulations.

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: NickelTitanium
is being a CPA all that hard? just one year to prepare is nothing.

I see what you mean. One year doesn't seem like a lot of time. In terms of difficulty though, I have heard that the CPA exam is harder than the bar exam. Traditionally, the pass rate for first time candidates is around 10-13%; I'm not sure what the rate is this year because a new computerized version of the exam was used.

I'm not sure how long it usually takes people to pass. Personally I had a very specific time frame set in my mind. In order to meet my own schedule, I had to become a full time student at 2 schools to satisfy the requirements in time to sit for the exam. Once I had finished with these courses, I spent about 5 hours daily preparing for the exam, upping the hours once the exam got closer.

Also, passing the exam is just the first step. To get the license in California, usually you still need 2 more years of experience and 500 hours of audit experience, and then to pass another exam. There is also continuing education needed to renew the license. Since I had sufficient college credit, I can now cut my 2 years of experience down to 1 year. I've heard that the Big 4 will usually sign off on your audit hours after 2 years, so that's about how much longer it'll take before I actually get the license.

dfi

 

[allisolm]

If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

It would give you an idea about how much you need to study to pass it the next time.

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: biostud666

Originally posted by: RagingBITCH

Originally posted by: biostud666
If 75 is minimum score to pass what do you use 0-74 for?

um.......what? You fail it then.

sure, but if you fail don't you just fail? or can you pass the examins with failed courses.

What I thought is why don't they just call it failed or passed 1-25?

MMM say no to blow.

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: luvya
Did you attend any CPA preparation class, or just study on your own?

I used the Becker Conviser self preparation course. I think it's quite good.

dfi

 

[Orsorum]

I know that Washington state now requires 225 credit hours and a degree with a concentration in accounting for first-time CPA licensees, in addition to the CPA exam and a year's worth of work experience. It's not exactly an "easy" thing to get.

 

[FoBoT]

:gift:

 

[rh71]

barely passing huh ? Where do you / are you going to practice ? I'll make sure to stay away.

 

[dfi]

Originally posted by: rh71
barely passing huh ? Where do you / are you going to practice ? I'll make sure to stay away.

Heh, I could be practicing anywhere. Maybe even in YOUR hometown!! (DUM DUM DUM!!)

dfi

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: DingDingDao
Big 4 = top 4 accounting/consulting firms in the country.

Deloitte & Touche, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, KPMG, and Price Waterhouse Coopers. Used to be Big 5, until Arthur Andersen pulled an Enron.

Pulled an Enron?

Uh they didnt pull an Enron, they helped create Enrons mess, along with the financial mess of about ~15 other companies who did similar book cooking. Aurther Anderson perfected the art of cooking books, Enron just followed their lead, with their help.

 

[Nuriko]

Nice scores, congrats